Formula 1: 5 possible replacements for Nikita Mazepin

Possible Nikita Mazepin replacements: No. 4 – Oscar Piastri

If there is one driver not on the Formula 1 grid in 2022 who many believe deserves a seat, it is Oscar Piastri, whose dominant Formula 2 season culminated with a third consecutive championship in three different series.

Piastri also won the Formula Renault Eurocup title in 2019 and the Formula 3 Championship in 2020. But instead of being promoted to Formula 1 for 2022, he was named the Alpine reserve driver after having previously been a member of the Alpine Academy. The move has potentially positioned him to replace two-time world champion Fernando Alonso at the French outfit within the next few seasons.

While Piastri doesn’t have the Ferrari ties to justify the move to Haas as Nikita Mazepin’s replacement, there are a few reasons why this would still make sense — aside from the obvious one of him being the most talented driver without a ride this year.

It might take some serious negotiations, but Haas could effectively take Piastri on loan from Alpine, greatly benefitting the American team immediately, given the fact that they would be fielding the VF-22 for both of the last two Formula 2 champions.

This would benefit Alpine as well, as Piastri would gain valuable experience in the opening season of the new rules and regulations ahead of a potential promotion to the team in the near future, experience that simply cannot be replicated in a reserve role.

With Alpine being the only Renault-powered team on the grid, the team understand that Piastri has no way to gain Formula 1 experience at the moment outside a bizarre opportunity like this one with an unaffiliated team.